Machine cycle control system



Sept- 9, 1952 P. COHEN 21,609,553

MAcHNE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 11, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 T gl '50 58 65o@ 6062 f I /4 45 48 5 G7278 q 22 52 l @1:68 O J6 l w f6 34 32, 234 2/6 7 32 76 /24 "o e 42 o 36 La 38 00 96 f2 O A l O o 26 o 254g??|` 282 '80 120 o o I me o l y 'o 4 im f' 0 l 82 28 D /m Y 3540" 5? 'l' 30 f 360 fsa fi 32 /56\i\f' #5 25o .78 T '@28 l 54| Qi /Zsa 86?/10 L18 F 3 m @258/200202 i?? M'- n ,m4 fsa J0 me 55m 3@ '3/8 l 261 f90 ,@f- .#20 7/8 l," f3@ o f/e. i fi/ L z l 184 slowCYCL-FAST 7 1:7. 2 74 /376 Inventor) 9. 3 Pau! Cohen `378 5y )a At't my A l f 38g #-H @f I l Sept. 9, 1952 P. COHEN 2,609,553

MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. ll, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ln ventola Pa u) Cohen Eyzi At a ey Sept. 9, 1952 P. col-:EN 2,609,553

' MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. l1, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tig- 4- @fe lwenzolo Paul Cohen y )zi Attorney Sept. 9, 1952 P. COHEN 2,609,553

MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. ll, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 F-yd. 87 86 I Inventor@ Pau? C021 en.

I /21'6 Attorney Sept. 9, 1952 P, COHEN 2,609,553

MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. ll, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tf i 17,26 /27 5 mj@ /f/a, /ae /57 64; l o O f5@ z :W0 0 0 /68 10 /44 11 i /42 f 177,2

hive/lfm@ Paul Cohen By hi Attorney Sept. 9, 1952 P. COHEN MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. ll, 1949 5 x .y j@ 366 370 l 368 o lll IIE/2| P 0n te nh BO UC mw P.

By /zz's Atto rn ey Sept. 9, 1952 P. COHEN MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. l1, 1949 /n ven t0n Pau) Cohen SQ 35@ www T V 3 s QQS@ mn 5 A A||||. 5, m S l www w m w 3 t .n 6 Q @n n w 2, t e h D w un WIW/1E /n ,www P m 82 a @im w m` S m. S m www #n n W* n Dn m m f hmm /v Bt n m QSm i.. IHA, ESQ m @mm1 P w ,IIQ m v m NNN SQ q mmm\ Mn 1/ v mm@ m /A/ 9 S .NM 2 m Ewa@ A nw mmm n, \m A l mmm @a QAM 9, .m nwv E m.. m @la IIIH, Q {,Krin .n Sm ,lign VIII Patented Sept. 9, 1952 MACHINE CYCLE CONTROL SYSTEMA Paul Cohen, Glen Cove, N. Y., assgnor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 11, 1949, Serial No. 70,183

Claims.

This invention relates to arrangements for controlling the operation of a machine and more particularly to systems for controlling the machine cycle.

Attempts to provide means for automatically controlling the cycle of operation for a complicated machine have always resulted in considerable Complexity. When such machines lare used for operation upon boots and shoes the problem is accentuated by the necessity of arranging the machine for operation upon diierent sizes of shoes and for adapting the machine for use on different styles of shoes. The employment of cams for such machines becomes particularly costly when it is necessary to provide a series of interchangeable cams for different sizes and for difierent styles. Adjustable cams are always complicated structures andare not commercially satisfactory.

Utilization has been made of the properties of photoelectric cells for the development of control systems because of the ease with which the current output of the cell may be controlled by the amount of light which falls upon it and in some of these shutters have been employed which are interposed between the source of light and the photoelectric cell to control the cell as the shutter is moved. Some suggestions have been made for the utilization of a replaceable strip of film or the like bearing partly transparent, partly opaque traces, the shape of which determines the output oi the photoelectric cell and this in turn may be utilized to. operate a control mechanism. Such devices enable the use of interchangeable strips as changes are made in the prescribed cycle of operation of the machine, as for example, because of changes in styles of shoes to be treated. `Some such arrangements are faulty in operation because of the inertia of the parts or the speed of the cycle through which the changes are to be made.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to providean improved machine-cycle control system wherein the benefits ofsuchelectrical control systems may be realized and in addition an accurate response of the machine parts to the control devicesmay be obtained.

y In the illustrated arrangement, a-control signal derived from a photoelectrie cell is determined by a composite, or algebraic sum, of the effects of"ccacting control strips or cams, one of which is shaped in accordance with the desired cycle of operations. and the other of which moves in accordance with the actual position oi theicontrolled part. As illustrated, superposed, partly tr ansparent" cam stripsare employed to control the output of a photoelectric cell. One of these cam strips, which bears an image representing the desired cycle of operations, is moved at a constant speed while the other or follower cam is moved back and forth in accordance with the actual position of the part to be controlled.

A feature of the invention resides-in the utilization of anticipating photocells which are placed ahead of the principal control cells and which receive the signal from the control cams a little sooner than the chief control cell. vkThe output of these anticipating cells is combined with that of the principal control cell thus enabling the mechanism to follow the desired cycle more perfectly when sudden changes of position are required. I

These and other features of the invention involved in the application of such a control system to a shoe leveling machine will best be understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which l Fig. 1 shows the-invention embodied in one form of shoe-leveling machine, it being taken in vertical section through the frame and its covers, to show the working parts in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the manual control boX; u

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine, with the roll lifting and depressing mechanisms omitted, to show the automatic control mechanism;

` Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the control mecha* nism shown in Fig. 3; 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, taken through the upper portion of the machine looking down on the roll-tilting mechanism supported on an upper cross-shelf;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly insection on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1, taken through the lower portion of the machine just below a lower crossshelf;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a valve-control rod and parts associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a plan view ofthe uppermost light cams, by which tilting movements of the leveling roll are controlled; v

Fig. 9 is a vertical` section on the line IX.,-IX

ofFig.8; i

Fig. l0 is a detail in section on the line vXf-X of Fig. 4; "L I Fig. 11 is a developed View oi a constant speed light cam for controlling the swinging movements of the jack;

Fig, 12 is a similar view of the'constant speed light cam for controlling the tilting movements of the leveling roll;

Fig. 13 is a similar View of the follower light cam which moves in synchronism with the tilting movements of the leveling roll; and

Fig. 14 is a schematic Wiring diagram.

The invention is illustrated herein as embodied in a shoe-bottom leveling machine having a main frame I (Fig. 1) in which is pivcted a shoe support or jack I2 to which swinging movements are imparted by mechanism to be hereinafter described to carry a shoe rearwardly and forwardly beneath a leveling roll I4 which is yieldingly forced down on the shoe bottom to apply leveling pressure progressively to the sole. Tip-r ping movements may be imparted to this roll by separate power-operated means controlled automatically in a manner hereinafter described to cause the leveling pressure to be applied to selected portions of the sole.

The jack I2 comprises a toe post Ie fast on a transversely extending rockshaft IB mounted in suitable bearings inthe frame Iii and a heel post loosely mounted en the shaft It. The toe and heel posts areprovided with means for supporting the shoe and last in the leveling operation comprising an vadjustable toe support 22 carried by the toe post I6 land a spindle 24 carried by the heel post 2t. The jack may also include a support 26 for the cone of the last, the construction and mounting of `these parts 4being similar to that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,230,244 granted February 4, 1941 on an application filedin the vname of F. V. Hart et al. to which reference may be made for amore complete description thereof. As will be understood by referenceto that patent, the toe end of a shoe, vafter i-t .has been vplaced on the `tack, as shown in Fig. 1, forced firmly against the toe support by the :action of a lever 23 which is moved downwardly to tip the spindle 24, after which the lever 28 is locked .to Va toothed segment 3i] carried by the heel post 20.

Upon .rearward movement of the jack to carry the toe end of the shoe beneath the leveling roll I4, a roll 32 carried by alever 34 engages a xed guard member '35 causing the lever to pivot in a counterclockwse direction about a pin 38 carried .by an arm 4,0 extending rearwardly from the shaft ,I8 and secured to the toe post I6 by a bolt 4I. The vupper-end Vof the lever 34 is conr nected .by a link 42 to mechanism by which the cone support 26 is forced 'upwardly into rm engagement with the cone of the last upon counterclockwise movement of the lever 34. The rear edge of the arm 4U carries segmental teeth 44 by which motion is imparted to the jack I2 to swing it about the shaft :I8 inl the'leveling operation. The segmental teeth .44 are -enclosed by the guard 36 which is rigidly supported enga bracket 3l (Figs. 3 and 5) attached to the frame The leveling roll I4 is mounted 'to turn on a rod 46 (Fig. 1') carried by a holder `48 which is pivotally yconnected at 5U to a Acarrier '52. The carrier is mounted for tipping movements laterally of the Vmachine about the axis of a forwardly and rearwardly extending shaft 54 supported in bearings, one of which is indicated at 56, in the top of the machine. The holder 48 has a rearwardly extending arm '58 connected by a short link 6B to the rearwardly extending arm B2 of a bell crank lever '64 fulcrumed at 6e on the carrier 52. The bell crank lever has downwardly extending arms 68 carrying trunnions which extend into a circumferential groove IIJ of a bushing l2 slidably mounted on the shaft 54, thus raising and lowering the roll I4.

To effect this up and down movement, and thereby to cause the roll to bear on the shoe sole, an upwardly extending arm 18, the upper portion of which carries trunnions which extend into a circumferential groove 'I8 .in the bushing l2, is pivotally mounted on a laterally extending shaft 'I4 supported by suitable bearings in the frame of the machine. Mounted on the shaft 'I4 is a downwardly extending yoke 8e to which is connected by a threaded rod 82 a yoke-shaped member `V84 in which is pivoted a lever 8B on a shaft 8l. kThis lever has oppositely extending arms of equal lengths to the ends of which are pivoted blocks 88 'providing abutments for compression springs 90, 92, the former bearing against an abutment 94 secured to the frame of the machine. rThe spring 92 at its upper end engages an abutment 95 pivotally connected to an arm S8 integral with the arm '15. The springs 90, 92 act to rock the arm I6 in a clockwise direction moving the slidable bushing l2 .rearwardly along the shaitv54 .andurging the levelingroll I4 downwardly tofexert leveling pressure against the shoe bottom.

Provision is made for lifting the roll I4 against the action lof ,the .springs Bil, '92 'when the .jack i2 is moved rearwardlyto carry the toe end of the shoe under the leveling roll `and whenever during the leveling operation it .is Ydesirable that the roll be llifted `out of .contact with the shoe bottom. Integral with the .7.5 is an'arm IGU the forward end of which .is connected 'by an adjustable link Iil2 to one endiof alever IB4 pivoted between its ends .on a pin 'IDS Vin a frame bracket lill, the other end of the lever .carrying trunnions extending into a peripheral ,groove formed in the upper end of a plunger .Hi8 which may benmoved and controlled hydraulically. This plunger |88 projects upwardly from a piston movable vertically .in a cylinder .I Iii 4as shown in detail in Patent 25,230,244, referred to above. When pressure fluid is introduced into the lower end of the cylinder I-Hl the .lever H34 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction thereby lifting the leveling rollagainst the acti-on of the springs 98, 92.

Hydraulic mechanism, carried in the base of the maChinaLincludes a reservoir I-I2 for pressure fluid to be supplied'to the .cylinder `I IIl. lSecured to the top of the reservoir .-'I'I21isaacompressor I I4 arrange-d to be driven by :an electric .motor III. the discharge'side of the :compressor 'being connected by a pipe I1Ii8 to the Alower end of apressure-regulating @valve i250. This valve includes a plunger |22 arranged, when the plunger .is in an upper position, Yto permit tree iiow of `pressure fluid from the reservoir II2 through the compressor and back to the reservoir by way lof the valve |20. However, when ythe -plunger -I22 is moved downwardly `fluid y'is then forced 'under high pressure fromV the lcompressor IM Vinto the cylinder III) by way'ofa valve |24 (Fig. 8) having a stem |23 (Fig. 7) 'a'ndc'ontained within a vcasing I2-5 just Aback of 4thecylind'er -'I'Il'l in lFig. '1 and connected lto it. This valve yincludes a plunger which, when depressed, interrupts the flow 'of pressure iluid into the cylinder 'IIB and permits exhaust therefrom whereby the roll I4 is pressed downwardly against thel shoe bottom by the springs SI), 92. The valves I`2ll, ,|24 may .be constructed as shown in the Hart et al. patent.

Mechanism for depressing the plunger |22 (Fig. 1) of the valve |20 at the beginning of the leveling operation to cause lifting of the leveling roll as the toe end of the shoe is moved thereunder will now be described. To the upper end of the plunger |22 is connected a link |28 the upper endof which is pivoted to the lower end of a depending arm |30 carried at the nearvend (Fig. 1) of a rockshaft |32 (Figs. 3 and 5) journaled in the frame of the machine. The link |28 and the arm |30 form a toggle which is straightened upon clockwise movement of the arm |30 (Fig. 1) thereby to move the plunger |22 downwardly, operating the pressure regulating valve to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder I to lift the roll as described in the aforementioned patent.

Mechanism to operate the valve includes a downwardly extending arm |34 which is secured to the far end of the rockshaft |32. The lower end of this arm is secured to a block |35 recessed to straddle a bushing |36 which is fast on a valvecontrol rod |38 (Fig. 7) mounted vfor sliding movement forwardly (toward the bottom of the sheet in Figs. 6 and 7) and rearwardly of the machine. Also slidable on the rod |38 is a bushing |40 urged forwardly along the rod by a spring |42, the rearward end of which engages a collar |44 secured to the rod. The arrangement is such that upon forward movement of the rod |38 the spring |42 acts on the bushing |40 and the block at the lower end of the arm |34 to swing the toggle links |28, |30 (Fig. 1) into substantially alined relation. As the toggle links are thus swung the plunger |22 is moved downwardly operating the pressure regulating valve |20 to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder ||0.

This must take place when the jack is swung to carry a shoe toe under the roll |4. Accordingly the forward end of the rod |38 is pvoted at |46 (Fig. 1) to an arm |48 secured to a rockshaft |50 carried by the frame of the machine. Also secured to the rockshaft |50 is an upwardly extending curved arm |52 carrying at its upper end a roll |54 engageable with a downwardly extending arm |56 carried by the shoe support I2 and tiltable with it. The rod |38 carries a lock-nut |58 forming an abutment for one end of a coil spring |60 surrounding said rod. the other end of the spring acting against a fixed stop |62 on the machine frame. The spring |60 urges the rod |38 forwardly, holding the roll 54 in engagement with the arm |56 carried by the shoe support. Upon rearward movement of the shoe support to carry the shoe into operative relation to the leveling roll the arm |56 moves forwardly whereupon the spring |60 causes forward movement of the rod |38 to straighten the toggle |28, |30. Pressure fluid is accordingly supplied to the cylinder I0 to elevate the leveling roll against the action of the springs 90, 82 permitting movement of the toe end of the shoe under the roll without stubbing the end of the shoe.

At a predetermined point in the forward movement of the rod |38 during rearward movement of the shoe support the valve |24 is operated to cut off the flow of fluid into the cylinder |0 and to exhaust the' fluid therefrom, whereupon the leveling roll is forced by spring pressure into engagement with the shoe bottom. This operation of the valve |24 is effected by a lever |64 (Fig. 7) connected by links |61 to the stem |23 of the valve |24. At its end the lever |64 is connected by links |66 to the plunger of a valve |21 which is Aarranged to act/as a fluid check to prevent too sudden a release of the leveling roll i4 to the action of the springs 90 and 82 such as might tend to cause-the roll to impart a hammer blow to the bottom of the shoe.

The lever |64 is pivotally carried by a pin |68 and has an upwardly extending arm |10 carrying an eye bolt |12 to which is connected one end of a spring |14, the other end being connected to a pin |16 carried by the frame of the machine. The rod |38 carries an abutment |18 which acts on a downwardly extending arm of the lever |64 to move the lever against the action of the spring |14 at a predetermined point in the forward movement of the rod. The abutment vv|18 is adjustably positioned length- Wise of the rod so that it will move the lever |64 at the time when the toe end of the shoe moves under the roll |4 to permit movement of the roll by spring pressure against the shoe bottom.

At any time during the leveling operation the operator may, by stepping on a treadle |82 (Fig. 1), impart rearward movement to the rod |38 sufficient to operate the valve |24 and cause lifting of the roll |4. This treadle is pivoted at |84 to the base of the machine and is normally held in the up position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring |86, the upper position of the treadle being determined by a stop screw |88. Pivoted to the treadle |82 is a bar |90 having a slot |92 in its upper end arranged to receive a pin |94 carried by an arm |96 secured to the shaft |50. By depressing the treadle |82 the shaft |50 is rotated in a clockwise direction causing rearward movement of the rod |38 to operate the valve |24, thereby admitting pressure fluid to the cylinder I I0 to lift the leveling roll.

Provision is also made for causing automatic lifting of the leveling roll if desired at predetermined times in the cycle of operation of the machine. For this purpose mechanism is provided which lies below a lower horizontal shelf |98 (Fig. 3) bolted to the sides of the frame I0. Secured to the underside of this shelf |98 (Fig. 1) is a lsolenoid 200 having an armature 202 the outer end of which is connected by a pin and slot connection 204 (Fig. 6) to an arm 206 journaled on a vertical pin 208 also secured to the underside of the shelf. Also journaled on the pin 208 is a lever 2|0 one end of which has a pin 2`|2 extending downwardly between the flanges of a grooved collar 2|4 secured to the rod |38. The lever 2|0 also'has a portion 2|| extending from the opposite side of the pin 208 in position to be engaged by the arm 206 when the rod |38 is in its forward position and the arm 206 is moved by energization of the solenoid 200. With the machine at rest the arm 206 and the lever 216 assume the full line positions illustrated in Fig. 6. During the leveling operation the rod |38 is moved into its forward position, as heretofore described, whereupon the lever 2|0 assumes the broken line position shown in Fig. 6. If now at any time during the leveling operation the solenoid is energized the arm 206 moves into the broken line position shown, causing the lever 2|0 to move with it whereupon the rod |38 is moved rearwardly a suiicient amount to open the valve |24 and admit pressure fluid into the cylinder ||0. As soon as the solenoid 200 is deenergized the rod 38 is moved forwardly by'the spring |60 causing the lever 2|0 again to assume the broken line position of Fig. 6 and the arm 206 to be moved back to the full line position shown. Thus it will be seen that each time in the cycle of operations that the solenoid 200 isv energized the 7 leveling roll I4 willbe lifted out of engagement with the shoe bottom. In addition, the operator may at any time by depressing the treadle .|82 move the rod ,138 rearwardly to cause lifting of the leveling roll.

For imparting `tipping movements to the ,leveling roll I4 during nthe :leveling operation, the shaft 52 has keyed to it `a gear segment -2l6 (Fig. 3). Meshing with the gear segment is -a worm 2l3 carried by a shaft 2.20 lwhich* forms the output shaft of a conventional l.differential gear mechanism 222, the bearing .for the outer end of the shaft being carried-bye bracket 2.24 supported by an `upper shelf -2 26 secured across the frame of the machine. `Power lis supplied to the differential .gear mechanism 222, by a-shaf-t 228 (Fig. 4.) arranged to be ydriven at constant speed during the cycle ofoperations of the machine, and vby a shaft 230 ldriven at variable speeds as will be explained. The direction and speed of the output `shaft 22 llof the differential gear mechanism will depend upon the relation of the speed of the shaft 286 to that of the shaft 228.

The shaft 232i is coupled to a variable speed motor 232 secured to the shelf 226.-. This upper shelf also carries a constant speed motor ,234 arranged to be connected to the .shaft 228 during the leveling .cycle by a clutch 235 consisting -of clutch elements 236, 238. Together, these motors l element 238 whereupon vrotation is Vimparted to the shaft'228.

For thus swinging the shiftinglever 2216, .a solenoid 2'54 is secured to the 4'underside .of `the ,shelf 226, the armature of the solenoid .being losely pivoted at '255 to the lower end of the .lever 246.. The circuit to thissolenoid includes -a normally open switch 25B at the lower left in Fig. Y1 arranged to be `contacted and closed, by the lower surface of an 'arm 280 connected to the toe .post i6 of the shoe support 1.2, whenever the shoe support is moved rearwardly to carry the shoe toward the leveling roll. The switch 256fi's carried' by an arm 26| pivoted on vthe'shaft 1'5'6 and pivotally connected to the upper end of the bar |60 .factuated vby the treadle. The arm 260 maintains the switch 258 closed during the leveling operation so that the shaft 228 (Fig. 4) rotates continually at constant speed unless the treadle |8`2 is depressed to lower the arm 26| carrying the switch 258, moving it out of contact rvwith 'the'arm26- The speed of the motor 232 is 'controlled 'by a light-responsive mechanism 'in 'such a manner that tipping movements are impartedzto'the'leveling roll Hl in accordance 'with a predetermined schedule. Carried between "the 'shelves 188 and 226 is a vertical stationary 'shaft 2 64 (Fig. 4) and near th'evupper end of 'this shaft is .iournaled a large gear 266 which isdriven at constant speed by a pinion 268 carried by a vertical .shaft 218 extending parallelto the shaft 262i.' The upper end of the shaft 216 carries a worm gear2`12 (Fig. which mesheswitha wormy 214 carried by the shaft 240 ldriven 'by the lconstant speed motor 23'4.

Carried by the gearw2f66 turning on the shaft '264 is a master light cam 21.6 having an opaque lower portion 218, shown developed, ,in Fig. l2, and av transparent; .upper portion 280, the opaque portion extending .upward -f-romv-a zerolor base line and being shaped to-constitute a movable pattern member whichL will intercept varying-.amounts of light between alight source and aphotocell by which 4the motorv232is controlled. This cam may be formed cfa-ny suitable materialsuch as photograph-ic film-or any other transparent substance upon which a suitably `shaped opaque pattern yhas -been applied. The opaque pattern 2.18 in Fig. 12 isof an appropriate shape to control the leveling roll through a cycle of operations.

Carried between the` shelves |68 and 226 ,is a verticalred282 (Fig. 4) to the upperend of which is :secured-a bracket 284 lsupporting a pair of Ydepending light-sensitive devices such as the photoelectric cells ,286, 288. Carried vbetween this bracket and abracket 298 at the lower endjof the rod 282 .isa tubularluorescent light-292 between which .and the p-hotoelectric tubes 28.6, 288 is the master Alight ca -m 2.16. Light from the upper -end of the uorescenttube 292 is directed toward each of the photoelectric tubes 286, 288 inany suitable manner vas by TLucite members `222,l 29,6 (Figs. lland 8) {Ihejends of these members which are remote from kthe light 2982 carry .opaque plates 298 having slits for the passage of light .-to the tubes 286, 288.

The amount -of light reaching the tubesv286, 28S is controlled not only by the position of the master cam 216 which is turned at constant speed during the leveling operation, but also by the position of a follow up or follower light cam 38D which lis mounted within the cam 216. The cam 300 is carried by a plate V382 (Fig. V9) journaled on the shaft 264 .immediately above the gear 266, therebeing secured to the upper faceof the plate 382 a gear 324. Engageable with this `gear isa pinion .36.6 secured to the lower end of a sha-ft 308 journaled in the shelf 226 and extending thereabove as indicated in Fig. 4, the upper end of .the shaft carrying a bevel gear 610 meshing with .a semicircuflar bevel gear 312 fast on the roll carrying shaft 54. By this arrangement the follower cam 396 will move in accordance with the actual tipping movements of the leveling roll so that lits position at any time will depend upon the position into which the leveling .roll has moved. The follower cam l35H3, as shown in IFig.

13,A is provided with an upper opaque portion 3M' extending Adov-.inward from a Zero or base line ati-ts topxedge and which'increases indepth from right to lef-t as viewed inthat figure and a complementally shaped lower transparent portion .316. Thus itwilljbeseen that the amount oflight which passes from the'uorescentftube y2 92 Cto-the photoelectric tubes v286 288 will depend not. only upon the position of the master'cam 216 but alsoupon the position of the follower cam 365, the light passing between the lower opaque portion of the cam land the upper opaque portion of the cam s60.. The purposeof the follower cam 36! is to provide a correction in the event that the levelingroll is not in the precise position it should beat anytimeduring the leveling operation. The. cycle of operation of the roll depends upon the opaque pattern formed on the cam 216 which is turned at a constant `speed during the leveling operation but the actual amount of light which reaches the pho-toelectric tubes depends' not only upon. the position of this cam but also upon vthe posit1on ofthe leveling roll as reected by the f 9 position o1' thefollower cam 300. Thus this latter cam at all times acts to impose a correction factor upon the master cam 216 if the leveling roll is not properly positioned. 1

The photoelectric tube 286 is the main controlling tube forthe variable speed motor 232 and its signal, passing through a suitable amplifier 3I8 as indicated in the schematic wiring diagram of Fig. 14, provides a photoelectrical control for the power means for tilting the leveling roll. The photoelectric tube 288 modifies the action of the tube 286 and is designed to anticipate'the position into which the leveling roll is to be moved so that the roll will start moving before the light cams indicate` that a certain movement should have taken place. In this manner the tube 288, by anticipating the motion that is to take place, acts to minimize hunting of the levelingroll. A rheostat 320 is connected between the photoelectric tube 288 and the amplifier 3IB and permits control of the effectiveness of this photoele'ctric tube, as its signal is added to that from the tube 286, in anticipating the roll movement to be called for by the photoelectric tube 286 and hence the predominance of one tube over the other.

For moving the jack I2 toward and beneath the roll I4 in the leveling operation, a pinion 322 (Figs. 1 and 4) meshes with the gear segment 44, this pinion being driven through reduction gearing 324 (Fig.` 3) by other power means such as a reversible motor 326 supported on the lower shelf |98. Electric current for operating the motor 326 is derived from an Amplidyne generator 328, the output of which varies greatly in response to minute changes in the field excitation. The current input to the "Amplidyne generator passes through an amplifier 339 (Fig. 14) and is controlled by a pair of photoelectric tubes 332,334 (Fig..4). These photoelectric tubes are carried by a bracket 336 which is secured to the rod 282 and is notched to make room for the iiuorescent light 292. The photoelectric tubes onthis bracket also respond to the light from the fluorescent light 292 guided by Luoite members, one of which is shown at 331 (Fig. 4) ,which are similar to the members 294,

296 (Fig. 8). The amount of light passing to the photoelectric tubes 332, 334 is controlled by alight cam 338 having a lower opaque portion 349 (Fig. 11) and an upper transparent portion 342. 'I'his light cam is carried by a gear 344 (Fig. 4) journaled on the shaft 284 and driven by a pinion 346 carried by the shaft 210 which is in turn driven by the constant speed motor 234 as heretofore described. The photoelectric tube 332 is the main controlling'tube and the tube 334 corresponds tothe aforementioned tube 288 in anticipating the movement to be imparted to the jack, their signals being combined to control the reversible motor 326. A rheostat 348 (Fig. 14) is providedfor varying the effectiveness of the tube 334.

To insurethat the jack moves in accordance with a predetermined cycle, an additional photoelectric tube 356 is connected to the amplifier 336 and is carried by a bracket 352 secured to the lower end of the rod 282. Interposed between the tube 359 and the fluorescent tube 292 with its Lucite guide prism 293 (Fig. is a follower cam 354 (Fig. 4) arranged for sliding movement in tracks 356 carried by brackets 358 supported by the shelf |98. The right end of this light-controlling follower cam 354 is cut at 4an angle so that the farthervthe caml moves to the left.' as viewed in Fig. 4, the greater the fio `.amount of light which reaches the photoelectric tube 350. This light-controlling cam is connected by a link 368l to the jack I2 (Fig. 1) below the supporting shaft' I8 so that movements of the jack to carry a shoe forwardly and rearwardly beneath the leveling roll will beimparted to the cam 354 so that the cam will move to the left upon movement of a shoe carried by the jack rearwardly beneath the leveling roll. The cam 354 in its function corresponds to the cam 388 associated with the cam 216, the total amount of light reaching the photoelectric tubes 332 and 350 controlling the current input tothe Amplidyne generator and consequently the direction and speed of the motor 326. If, for`any reason, the jack isnot in the proper position at' any time during the cycle of operations a correction is introduced bythe control of light reaching the photoelectric tube 35Iiwhich`i`s controlled directly in accordance 'with the particul lar position of the `jack at that time.

It may be desirable during certain portions of the cycle of operations automatically to lift the leveling roll out. of contact with thev shoe bottom. As heretofore explained, this lifting of the leveling roll may be accomplished at anytime upon energization of the solenoid 260. For thus energizing thissolenoid automatically as desired, a switch 362 (Figs. 4 and 8) is secured to the rod 282 at a level below that of the gear 266. This switch is normally open and has an actuating button 364 directed toward the gear 266. Secured to the underside of this gear are one or more switch-actuating members 366 (Fig. 9)

provided with radial slots 368 through which pass bolts 318 by which they are secured tothe gear 266 for adjustment radially thereof. The bolts 310 pass through a clrcumferentially extending slot 311 in the gear 266, thereby providing for adjustment of the switch-actuating member366 circumferentially of the gear to vary the time during the rotation of the gear at which vthe switch-actuating member moves into contact with the button 364 of the switch 362. By movin g the member 366 far enough inwardly 'of the gear it will pass by the switch without actuating the lbutton so that it does not cause lifting of the leveling roll. Y j

For controlling the speed of the cycle of operation a rheostat 312 is interposed in the circuit to thevv constant speed motor 234, as shown in Fig. A.14. This rheostat maybe controlled by `a knob 314 (Fig. 2). carried .by a control box316. Inoperating upon large sized shoes, it may be desirable to operate the machine somewhat more slowly than in operating upon small sized shoes and this is readilyregulatedby manipulation of the knob 314'.. k Also carried 'by thecontrol'box 316 are start-andstop buttons 318, 388 for operating av main power switch 382 (Fig. 14) positioned between commercial supply mains (not shown) and the power supply 384 (Figs. 5 and 14). i

vv.In the operation of the machine the button 318 will be depressed at the beginning of the day, thereby to supply power to the fluorescent light 292, the amplifiers .318, 330, the -pump motor H6 and the constantspeed motor'234. With the jack I2 in its forwardmost position, as shown in Fig. l, which position it assumes with the machine at rest, the switch 258 below thejack. is open so that the solenoid 254 (Fig. 4) is deenergized and the clutch 236, 238 disengaged. i Consequently no motion is imparted to the shaft 216 by which the light cams 216 and 338 are rotated. A shoe is placed on the jack as heretofore explained and. the jack. is. then moved rearwardly by the operator. untilthe. arm 260;: closes theV switch; 258 thusv energizing the solenoid 25# and engaging theclutch between `the constant speed motor 234 and the shaft 223. The cams 213 and 3384 now starttorotate so that motion is imparted'by the motor 326 to carry the ,iackin and out inv accordance `with the amount of light reaching the photoelectric tubes 332. and 336.

Tilting movementsv areV imparted to the leveling roll in accordance' with the. amount. of light reaching the photoelectricr tubes- 286, 288. The particular cyclefof operations-of. both the leveling roll and theVshoe-supporting jack aredetermined by the opaque patterns formed on. the

cams` 21S and 338, and it will be understoodethat.

by replacing. these light cams. with light. cams having: diierently shaped opaque patterns thereon the cycle of operations of either. the leveling roll, the shoe-supporting` jack. or both/may be readily varied. The 'follower-cams 300 and 354 assume positions corresponding to the positions .of theV leveling` roll and the4 jack at all: times s understood that by depressing the treadle 1,82

the valve |241 is operated tolift theleveling roll. From the above it will be understood that. by the use of transparent light control members; the

cycle of` operations ofthe machine is controlled automatically, there being provision for insuringthat the parts move lin accordance with a predeterminedv cycle. A

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claimas newv and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the. United Statesis:

. 1- Injran. automatic apparatus, a movable mechanism/power means for moving the mechanism, and means to control said power means, said control means comprising two. photocells positioned adjacent to. one another, a source of light for said cells, and' a light-intercepting device movable between rthe source of light and the cells to pass variable amounts of lightv to the cells successively, said cells being .both connected to combiney their signals, whereby one. cell, provides a signal anticipating movements to be effected by the' other cell. Y

2;.I`n. an automatic apparatus, a movable mechanism, power means for moving the mechanism, means to control said power means, said control means comprising two photocells posi'- tioned adjacent to one another and arranged to combine their signals, a source of light for said cells, a light-intercepting device movable between the source of lightv and the cells to pass variable amounts of light to the cells successively, and means for determining the predominance. of one signal over the other.

3. Apparatus for controlling a movable mechanism to reproduce a predetermined cycle of movement, said apparatus comprising a light sensitive device, a source of light, superposed cooperating light intercepting members positioned between the source of light and the light sensitive device to produce a composite ,Signal meansby; said cooperating intercepting means to a power` device `by/which the mechanism may be moved., through the; desired.' cycle.

4., In. combination, a movable mechanism, power means to move the mechanism, and apparatus for' automatically controlling the movable mechanism to'operate'itin apredetermined cycle, said apparatus comprising a photocell, a lsource oilighueoncentra partly opaque cylinders 'interpiosedibetweenthe source.. of light and the photocell, means for* rotating; one; ofi saidcylinders at a predetermined. speed, and means for positioning the other? cylinder in. proportion to the position of.- the mechanism under control, the opaque portions of said cylinders being thus variably spaced' to; allow 'the passagel of variable amounts of light to produce.: inthe photocell thel desired signals., and means toV transmit the signals to the power means;

5.. In combination, a. movable mechanism, a photoccll control apparatus for determining the movement of said-.mechanism said apparatus including a phot-odell, a source. of light, coacting adjacently': positioned; control cams movable betweenthe.. light; and the cell, said cams each having" an. opaque.. portion extending oppositely from its; zero line. in a direction to overlap that on the othercam said zero lines being spaced, and means for variably moving. said. cams to control theope-ration of the mechanism, and means interposed between the control apparatus and the mechanism for utilizing the` signal produced in the photocell by the amount of light passing through the space between said cams to produce the desiredmovement of the mechanism.

5.51m. combinatioml a movable'mechanism,` a photoelectric control apparatus for determining the movement of said mechanism, said apparatus including a photocell, a source of light, superposed control cams. movable between the light and the sai-d earns each having an opaque portion, that. on one. cam extending from a base line upward and that. on the other cam extending from a top line downward, one cam being a master cam andthe other a follower cam, means for moving the latter cam in proportion to movement of the mechanism, and means for moving the. master cam at. al predetermined speed, and means interposed. between, the control apparatus andthe mechanism. for utilizing the signal produced in the photocell by the light passing through the space between saidv cams to produce in the mechanism the desired movement.

7.. In4 combination, a shoe leveling machine including a leveling tool, mea-ns, for tilting said tool from side to.- side, andmeans for controlling the tilting; of the tool, comprisingv a differential connected thereto, aconstant speed motor connected tofone: side. or' said differential, a variable speed motor connected tothe other side-of said difierential, a photocellforY controlling said variable speed motor, a source of light, a light-intercepting cam movable between said light and said cell in response to the actual tilting movements of theA tool, a coacting light-intercepting cam,

and means for moving said latter cam in a predetermined cycle.

8. In combination, a shoe leveling machine including a leveling tool and means for producing a relative movement between the tool and a shoe supported in the machine, lengthwise of the shoe, said means comprising a reversible motor, a photocell for controlling said reversible motor, a source of light, a light-intercepting cam interposed between the source of light and the cell, means for moving the cam in a predetermined cycle, another photocell the signal of which is superposed upon the signal produced by the rst cell, and means for controlling the latter cell by a light-intercepting cam movable back and forth in proportion to the relative movement between the shoe and the tool.

9. In combination, a shoe leveling machine having a swinging, shoe-supporting jack, a leveling roll, electrical power means for tilting said leveling roll, electric power means for reversibly moving said jack back and forth, photocell controls for both said power means, and a switch operated by the swinging jack for rendering one of said power means eiective.

10. The combination of a shoe leveling machine having a power-operated swinging jack, a

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,985,044 Lyle Dec. 18, 1934 2,158,536 Fisher et al May 16, 1939 2,298,407 Miller Oct. 13, 1942 2,322,334 Winkley June 22, 1943 2,346,240 Thomas Apr. 1l, 1944 2,438,825 Roth Mar. 30, 1948 2,459,253 Tyrner Jan. 18, 1949l 2,463,534 Hawkins Mar. 8, 1949 

